National Republican., 1887-09-06
To tho New Members of the Fiftieth
COnpress.

The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, desires TO
have frank and friendly talk with the new
members of the House Of Representatives
of the fiftieth Congress- one hundred and
twenty-nlne in number, and that regardless
or their political affiliations.
The majority of the House Of Represent
ativCs Of the forty ninth Congress will pass
into history as the most worthless body of
legislators ever selected to represent the peo-
pie of the United Stat s, and that Is be-
cause the members of the majority
party surrendered most of their free
Com OF thought and action and most
Of their rights as representatives OF
The reope-their political conscienees aud
futures-into the keeping of three men,
and what was not surrendered these men
usurped. Two OF these conscience keepers
of the Democratic party were beaten for re-
election, though one OF them has the cerUlf-
cate aud VIII probably retain the seat for
which he was beaten, and nearly one hun
dred Of the majority out of one hundred aud
eighty-siX were left at home by their justly
indignant constituents.
The Democratic majority was reduced
from fifty to eleven, and probably would
have been turned into a minority, but for the
fact that, to lesser extent, the same charge
of surrenderfng their rights into the hands
Of two or three men was true Of the Re-
publican minority, and In number Of in
stances Republican constituencies per-
mitted themselves to be represented by
Democrats rather than by Republicans who
voluntarily surrendered their manhood.
OF the one hundred aud twenty-nine
members of the next House who were not
in the last, Il number have previously been
in Congress, and nearly every one has been
member Of his state legislature, so thai.
hut very few il any of the new members are
without experience us legislators, working,
too, most Of them, under the sams co lG o.
EtLt!ul rules as that which governs the
House Of Representatives.
But with one or two exceptions, each and
8ll Of these men, no matter how great
II cir experience or how transcendent their
ftiliiies, will be relegated to the rear and
rot permitted to have anything to say as to
the legislation Of the country. Tue old
members who belong to the rings which run
the various branches Of legislation will say
to the new men, "Oh, you don't understand
the rules, 1t will take you at least years to
learn them, and this is presidential year,
anyhow, so you must let us old fellows who
know the ropes run all the committees and
do all the leglslating and talking"
The result, unless the new members assert
themselves, will be what 1t has been here
tofore, that the few will control the many.
The "steering committee" will take charge
of all business--any special legislation the
old ring leaders-the bell wethers-may
want, will be brought to the front, and
everything else will be buried In stocked
committees-snowed under by appropria
tCn bills-talked to death, or defeated by
bald usurpation, II Mr.. Crisp, OF Georgia
the administration candidate for speaker,
has as much nerve as Mr. Carlisle displayed
in the last Congress.
1t would be well, not only for the new
but for the majority Of the old members o
Congress to reflect on this matter. 1t Il
beyond doubt that large number OF tht
members OF the forty-ninth House were
beaten because of the failure of that House
TO pass legislation which the people OF the
There are now several questions OF grave
importance that should be considered and
acted upon by the fitieth Congress. Some
OF these questions, and perhaps those that
the people may consider most important
will be antagoni2ed by the old leaders-thC
men from among whom "steerng commit
tees" are chosen. 1t means political death
t. the men who deliberately ignore tht
wishes OF their constituents.
The new men who come to Congress fresl
from contact with the people, knowing
their views and desires, should demand
and enforce the demand, that the voice o
the people be listened to. These men should
not permit themselves to be overslaughed
by a little ring of political tricksters 10 Con
gTess who are for nothing but their owl
success. After this warning, II they prove
to be towards, their constituents shal
know It.